TAKING THE STRESS OUT OF YOUR LEGAL MATTER
“SPEEDY, CONVENIENT, KNOWLEDGEABLE, HELPFUL, FRIENDLY SERVICE!”
ABOUT RIGOLI LAWYERS
Rigoli Lawyers is a specialist family law firm accredited by the Law Institute of Victoria. We are based in the heart of the Melbourne CBD however operate all over Melbourne and Australia.
Our lawyers are well-versed in their fields of practice, so you can be confident that you will receive sound advice if you choose us. Our dedicated team values Australia's diverse cultures, and we have lawyers who speak languages other than English on our team.
We provide reliable advice from our Melbourne offices with an emphasis on compassionate service, approaching matters with attention to detail and tenacity to ensure we see your matter through.
Giving you peace of mind during a difficult time in your life is priceless. When people are dealing with legal issues, we take great pride in achieving positive outcomes and providing relief and certainty.
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Legal Services
Family Law
-> Divorce
-> Divorce Property & Financial Settlement
-> Consent Orders & Parenting Plans
-> Binding Financial Agreements
-> Intervention OrdersSeparation Lawyers Melbourne
Complex Family Law
WHY CHOOSE RIGOLI LAWYERS?
We want our clients to feel comfortable with the solicitor they need advice from, not awkward or intimidated or overwhelmed.
We want to lift up clients out of their trapped circumstances and show them there is a way out.
We want to help disadvantaged people get an advantage to achieve a just outcome.
Our desire is to encourage civil, polite and dignified behaviour in all negotiations and outcomes. Having said that, if the other side does not “play ball” we are more than equipped and prepared to take the matter to court or employ other legal strategies to get you the result you need.
We are tenacious and don’t give up easily.
We highly value justice and getting a fair outcome. We do not believe in dragging things out for no good reason or going to court if a sensible settlement out of court can be achieved instead.
Divorce Lawyer Melbourne CBD
Applying for a divorce may seem like an overwhelming and complicated process. Along with the emotional turmoil that can come with a marriage breakdown, it can seem daunting to have to go through the legal process of separating, splitting your assets, and sorting out custody if you have children.
Our divorce lawyers in Melbourne CBD and suburbs can help. We will walk you through every step of the divorce process, aiming to make your separation as smooth and painless as possible.
Before you can apply for a divorce, you and your spouse must be separated for at least a full year. Ensure that you keep a record of the date of your separation and have friends and family who can attest to that date.
This will make determining the date of separation easier when the time comes to prepare your divorce application. If you have been married for less than two years, you will also need to submit a Counselling Certificate before you apply.
It’s important to note that you can apply for a divorce even if your spouse doesn’t agree. As long as there is evidence of separation and the welfare of any children is taken care of, The Court will grant your divorce, whether it has been made jointly or not.
Our Melbourne CBD Divorce Lawyers will be able to advise you on how to navigate your specific circumstances when applying for a divorce. We also have accredited complex family law specialists who can guide you through more complicated disputes tied to your divorce.
Binding Financial Agreement Lawyers Melbourne
Sometimes referred to as a Prenuptial Agreement, a Binding Financial Agreement is a legal document that outlines how to divide you and your partner’s assets in the instance of a separation or divorce.
While these agreements can be made before entering a marriage or de facto relationship, they can also be made during your relationship due to any change in circumstances, or during a separation or divorce.
Setting up a Binding Financial Agreement means that, if you do split from your partner, you won’t have to appear in court. Court settlements in divorce cases rarely conform to the individual circumstances of each couple and can leave one or both parties unhappy with the outcome. By making your own arrangements you can ensure that you both get an agreeable settlement.
Complex Family Law
Every family law case is unique. While many have straightforward processes, some have complicating factors that require family law specialists in Melbourne. These are referred to as complex family law cases.
Complicating factors that come into play in family law include the size of the case, what shared assets, company structures, self-managed super, family trusts, are involved.
There are also many other contributing factors that would indicate that you have a complex family law case.
Property Settlements
A property settlement allows you to divide your shared assets and move forward with assets that are entirely your own.
This may become complex when a couple has a large property asset pool. This can consist of anything from one exceedingly valuable property to multiple properties in multiple locations or different classes of assets and shareholding interests.
Even more complicating can be the aspect of lack of disclosure or deliberate hiding of assets.
Rigoli Lawyers specialises in Family Law. Our lawyers have a sound knowledge of their areas of practice so you can trust that you will receive quality advice when you choose us.
Our dedicated staff appreciate Australia’s diverse cultures and our team includes lawyers who speak languages other than English.
From our Melbourne offices we give you advice that you can rely on. Giving you peace of mind at what can be a difficult time in your life is invaluable.
We take great pride in achieving positive outcomes and providing relief and certainty when people are dealing with legal issues. We know that engaging a family lawyer can be a daunting experience, often with a range of emotions attached. Whether you are going through separation or divorce, have found yourself caught up in child custody dispute or need advice from our friendly family lawyers, we are here to help. That’s why as a Melbourne based family law firm we pride ourselves on creating a stress-free solution to your legal matters.
Spousal Maintenance
In some countries it is called “alimony” and other countries have similar names that refer to spousal financial support post separation. It is usually paid on a weekly/monthly basis and continues either for a specific period eg; until the property settlement case is finalized OR for a number of years after property settlement, allowing the payee to financially get on their feet. Although it is rare, orders can be made for payment from one ex-spouse to the other to be ongoing for life.
These are the considerations the Court takes into account:
Can the Applicant support themselves adequately?
If not, what are the Applicant’s reasonable needs?
Can the Respondent afford to meet those needs?
Ms Dodt’s position
By the time of the rehearing (June 2018) she had not taken any steps to re-enter the workforce. She explained that she had initially worked in hospitality, and then moved in to a managerial role in a service industry, which required a car. She did not want to return to hospitality (given her age and qualifications). She had not worked in her chosen field for about 5 years.
In May 2018 – her father had bilateral hip replacement surgery, and she had been caring for him since. However this was not a valid reason on its own to claim the spousal maintenance.
The Court found she did not meet requirements for 1 or 2 of the criteria. Therefore, the question was – was there any other adequate reason that the applicant could not support herself? She was originally receiving Centerlink benefits, but this had ceased by the time of the appeal. Her savings were approximately $12,000. Her savings were largely from the spousal maintenance previously paid by Mr Elei as ordered.
Areas we service
GET IN TOUCH WITH US – WE’RE HERE TO HELP
We will respond to your enquiry within 1 hour during business hours, otherwise within 24 hours.
Please note we are only taking enquires on family law related matters
New clients of Rigoli Lawyers are eligible for a free, first-time 30 minute consult on ANY family law legal matter.
Book your obligation-free confidential consultation to get the help you need.
